Isaiah 13:12 - Exposition

I will make a man more precious than fine gold (comp. Isaiah 4:1 ). Population shall he so diminished that man shall be the most highly esteemed of commodities. The more scanty the supply of a thing, the greater its value. The golden wedge of Ophir ; rather, pure gold of Ophir . Ophir is mentioned as a gold-region in 1 Kings 9:28 ; 1 Kings 10:11 ; 1 Kings 22:48 ; 1 Chronicles 29:4 ; 2 Chronicles 8:18 ; 2 Chronicles 9:10 ; Job 22:24 ; Job 28:16 ; Psalms 45:9 . Its locality is uncertain. Gold of Ophir appears to have been considered especially pure.